# Are you better off now . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954 "2012-09-07T04:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/21 "2012-09-08T00:36:49Z")
As for me, I’m doing better. Still have a job, with more money, and my stock portfolio is in far better shape than when Bush left office. But the important metric is that the economy is growing, not as much as it would have if we didn’t fire lots of state workers but a lot better than most of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/22 "2012-09-08T00:38:30Z")
I have to say it’s been a steady upward progression in my life regardless of who was president. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/23 "2012-09-08T01:00:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > “Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?” is a standard **Pub** line this cycle – I’m simply providing the most-appropriate response. It’s a hypothetical that no one can answer. But it sure does give the McCain campaign something to worry about! ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/24 "2012-09-08T01:06:14Z")
We’re both still employed, income slightly better, but cash flow much better due to refinancing, and making a lot of headway on our debt. So, interst rates have helped us. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/25 "2012-09-08T01:08:38Z")
I’m retired, so definitely better off, but I can speak for my three sons, all of whom have MUCH better jobs, making WAY more money than four years ago, and all of them are solidly middle class. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/26 "2012-09-08T01:52:17Z")
I’m not better off financially, but the reasons are due to choices I made and not the economy. Well, mostly. I’m more than 100K upside down on a rental house I bought in 2007. But I certainly don’t blame the president for my situation. ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/27 "2012-09-08T02:03:58Z")
I’m definitely better off now than 4 years ago. I haven’t had a raise in 4 years, so I took on a small part-time job (about 12 hours a week, done from home) in addition to my regular job (reference librarian). Because of the market glut, I now have a house that I bought on the cheap (fixer-upper), $15K in savings, and my 401K is doing very well. I never blamed President Bush for the bad economy, nor do I particularly credit President Obama for the recovery. I will, however, be voting for President Obama without reservation. I see him as a sane centrist politician. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954/28 "2012-09-08T02:05:31Z")
We’re making less as a family than we were than four years ago, but that’s because my wife’s a stay-at-home mom these days, which means a loss of her FT salary (by choice). I’m making 25% more than I was when Obama was elected however, same employer. I’d say we’re very comfortable, and feel happy with where we are. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-better-off-now/633954.md?page=1)